The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-06

which had no. deemed such a tractable crea-
ture capable. s1Do you suppose that anything
could justify such an imposition9 What. CHI!
what a you have spread for mein
murmursd. .Your life seemed to reouire i. y
but she did not hear me. She sank down in a
chair, covered her face. and then my father
came in. .'Oh. here you arel7 he said AZ could
not find you And Caroline"
She raised her face and asked him abruptly
"And were you, papa. party to this strange
deed of kindness2n
ITO what?' said he.
Then out it all came, and for the first time he
was made acquainted with the fact that the
scheme for soothing her illness, which had
sounded him upon, had been really carried out
In a moment he sided with Caroline My re-
peated assurance that my motive was good
availed less than nothing. In a minute or two
room, and my father followed her, leaving me
alone to my reflections.
Il was so bent upon finding Charles imme-
d1ately that did not notice whittier they went.
The servant told me that II. de la Heste was
just outside smoking. and one of them went to
look for him, following; but before we had
behind me. / expected him to be amazed: but
he showed no surprise at seeing me, though he
showed another kind of feeling to an extent
which disrnayed me. I may have revealed
something Similar but struggled hard against
all emotion, and AS soon as l could I told him
she had come He simply said Yes, lin low
voice.
you know it. Charles2" said I.
81 have just lear mt il" he said.
"Oh. Charles" I went on, ''having delayed
completing your marriage with her till now. I
fear-lt has become serious position for Us.
Why did you not reply to our letters2'
Il was purposing to reply in person, did not
know how to address her on the point-how to
address you. But what has become of her27
''She has gone off with my father. sad /; sin
dignant with you. and scorning me-"
He was silent and suggested that should
follow them, pointing out the direction which l
fan cied their eondoa had taken. AS thu one we
got into was doubly manned we came In
view of their two figures ahead of US. while they
were not likely to observe u.s. our boat having
the 'felze" on, while theirs was uncovered.
They shot into a narrow canal just beyond the
Giardno Reale, and by the time were float
ing up between its Shiny walls saw them
getting out of their goudola at the steps which
lead up near the end of the Via % Marco. When
we reached the same spot they were walking up
and down the Via in consultation. Getting out
he stood on the lower steps watching them. I
watched him. He seemed to fall into
erie.
ssWn you not go and speak to herl' said I
at length.
He assented. and went forward. Still he did
not hasten to join them, but, screened by a pro-
Jecting window, observed their musing converse
AT last he looked back at me; whereupon I
pointed forward, and he in obedience stepped
out. and met them face to face Caroline flushed
hot, bowed haughtlly to him. turned away, and
taking my fathers arm violently led him off
before he had time to his own Judgment
They disappeared into a narrow Gale. alley
leading to the back of the buildings on the
Grand Canal
M. de la Heste came slowly back; as he stepped
in beside me realized my position wildly
that my heart might almost have been heard
beat. The third condition had arisen-the least
expected by either of She had refused him;
he was free to claim me.
We returned In the boat together. He seemed
quite absorbed till we had turned the angle into
the Grand Canal. when he broke the silence
''She spoke very bitterly to you in the sallea-
manger," he said. II do not think she was
quite warranted in speaking SO to you, who
had nursed her so tenderly."
''Oh, but think she was" answered. at
was there l told her what had been done: she
did not know till then"
"She was very dignifed-very striking
he murmured. ''You were more.
"But how do you know what passed between
u.s." said !. He then told me that he had
seen and heard all. The dining-room di-
vided by folding-doors from inner portion,
and he had been sitting in the,latter part when
we entered the outer. SO that our words were
distinctly audible.
But, dear Alicia" he went on, 81 was more
impressed by the affection of your apology to
her than by anything else. And do you know
that now the conditions have arisen which give
me liberty to consider you my afflanced2" / had
been expecting that, but yet was not prepared.
stammered out that we would not discuss it
then.
may marry here and now9 She has cast off both
you and me-"
sit cannot be-" said I, firmly. ''Shs has not :.
been fairly asked TO be your wife in fact-ro re-
peat the service lawfully; and. until that has
been done. it would be grievous sin in to ac-
,ept vou."
I had not noticed where the gondoliers were
owing us. l suppose he had given them some
direction unheard by me. for, I resigned my
elf in despsiring incidence to the motion of the
.ondola, I perceived that it was taking ths
anal, and. turning into side opening the
oalazzo Grimani, drew up at some steps near
he end OF large church.
''Where are WEI" said l.
"ft is the Church of the Frari," he replied.
We might be married there. At any rate, let
ct US go In side and grow calm, and decide what
o do"
When we had entered found that whether a
lace to marry in not, it was one 20 depress.
me word which Venice speaks most constantly |
-decay-was in a sense accentuated here. The |
7hole large fabric itself seemed sinking into an |
arth which was not solid enough to bear it. Cob
7eboed cracks zigzagged the walls, and similar |
7ebs couded the window panes After walking |
bout with him little while in em barrassing 81
,nces, divided only by his cursory explanations |
the monuments and other objects, and almost
Earring he might produce a marriage license /
'ent to door in the south transept which opened
ito the sacristy.
l glanced through it, towards the small altar
/ the upper end. The place was empty, save
one figure; and she was kneslng here, in
ont of the beautiful altar piece by Bellini.
eautiful though it was, she seemed not to see
She was weeping and praying, as though
or heart was broken. She was my sister Caro- /
ne. beckoned to Charles, and he came to my
de, and looked through the door with me.
'Spesk to her," said l. ''She will forgive
)u.
gently pushed him through the doorway.
nd went back into the transept, down the nave
nd onward to the west door. There saw my
Their, to whom spoke. He answered severely
lat, having first obtained comfortable quarters
pension on the Grand Canal he had gone
ick to the hotel on the Riva degli Schiavoni to
nd me, but that was not there. He was now
aiting for Caroline, to accompany her back to
Q pension, at which she had requested to be left
herself as much as possible till she could re-
in some composure.
L told him that it useless to dwell on what
As past. that no doubt had erred, that the
medy lay in the future and their marriage. In
is he quite agreed with me, and on my inform
g him that NJ. de la Heste was at that moment
tn Caroline in the sacristv, he assented to my
oposal that We should leave them to them
Ives, and return together to await them at the |
nsIon, where he had also engaged a room for
,. This we did, and going up 20 the chamber
had chosen for me, which overlooked the |
nal, ieant from the window to watch for tie |
ndola that should contain Charles and my sis :.